Electric separator.



G. D. ROGERS. ELEGTRIC SEPARATOR.

APPLIOATION HLBD DB0. so, 1905.

Patented Nov. 16, 1909.A

-Zznesses said GEORGE ROGERS, OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC SEPARA'IOIIR..A

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1909.v

Application tiled December 30, 1905. Serial No. 293,872.

To all 'whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. ROGERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gloucester, in the county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and Vuseful Improvement in Electric Separators, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention consists in novel means of effecting the separation 'of given substances from mixtures containing the same.

It is known that in working with a polyphase coil a rotating electric field is produced, the coil itself, mechanically or physically considered, remaining stationary. In carrying my invention into eil'ct I ,utilize this rotating electric field produced by means of a polyphase coil, the latter itself preferably remaining stationary.

The'invention is based upon.the principle that when a mass of conducting material is subjected to the inliuence of a rotating electric field produced by a polyphasecircuit, eddy or Foucault currents are induced in such mass, tending to produce motion of the latter. I have perceived that when mechanically subdivided substances containing particles of conducting rmaterial are exposed properly to the influence of such a field, motion of such particles results in a plane perpindiicular to the axis of rotation of the e One especially important application or use of the invention is for the purpose of effecting the separation of metals or metalliferous substances from mixtures containling the same, more especially the separation thereof from non-metalliferous substances with which they are associated', as, for examl -progressive travel of the same toward a receptacle.. The mechanically rotating arrangements are cumbrous,'complicated, expensive to build, and sub]ect to wear and tear necessarily involving labor and eX- penditure inA repairs, and are otherwise ob' yectlonable. The stationary-magnet arrangements are lacking in simplicity.

The general -aim of the invention is to provide a novel effective method of separation, and an eilicient apparatus'of exceedmglysimple construction, mechanically, for

carrying such method into effect, in which the function of effecting the separation may be performed by an -entirely, stationary device; and to thereby avoid the wear and tear. to which ordinary working. parts are exposed, obviate liability to accidents and breakages, and minimize the cost of maintenance. f'Briefly stated, the invention involves the combination of a polyphase coil, and means for bringing within the influenceof the rotating electric field produced by such coil the ore or othermixture from which the metal or metals, or other substance or substances, is or are to be separated, the said ore or-other mixture being in a more or less finely subdivided state mechanically. The eddy or Foucault currents which are induced in the particles of metal or metalliferous substance, forinstance, cause motion of the said particles tending to carry them around the axis of the rotating field. The particles of nonmetalliferous substance are not thus affected, and do not partake of such motion. As a. result of the motion, the particles of metal or metalliferous substance fly in a direction away from the said axis, thereby separating from the non-metalliferous particles.

In the drawings I have illustrated by a diagram one means of carrying the invention into effect.

Having reference to the drawings,-at 1 is a conventional representation of a threephase three-p ase bi-polar coil which in practice will be mounted in a suitable support. Such coil is stationary and does not rotate. At 3,

,3, 3, are the leads or mains extending from the enerator to the coil. As will be understoov the current fromv the generator 1 will produce an electric rotating eld at the coil 2, although the said coil itself will not rotate. The mechanically sub-divided or comminuted ore or other mixture to be dealt with is brou ht within the influence of the electric rotating field. The manner of making .presentation of the said ore or other enerator, and at 2 is indicated a locate above the coil. As the falling particles enter within the influence of the rotating field, those in which eddy or Foucault currents are induced tend to move 'around the axis of rotation of the field and as aresult are deiected or thrown transversely with reference to the direction of movement 'of the general stream outside of the cylindrical wall B, while the remaining particles descend within the saidy wall, so that they ma be separately collected.

arious other arrangements .of ap aratus operating with an electric rotating eld are known, and may be employed in the place of the arra ement shown in .the drawings and previou y described.

The invention not only is intended for the separation of metals or metalliferous sub# stances from non-metalliferous substances, but is adapted to be utilized in electing separation of metals from each other when such metals have properties causing them to be in field. .l hat is claimed as the invention is 1. The means `o se aratingmixed substances, in av subdi ide state, mechanically,

Ndii-ere-ntly inliuencedby theelectric notait-- comprising-a polyphase coil, andmeans for' v subjectingl the mixture to the inliuence of the rotating electric eld of the said coil.

2. A separator com rising a separating element constituted o a normally stationary olyphase coil, and'means for conducting t rough the rotary electric field thereby produced the mixed substances which are-to e separated. y

3. A separator comprising a separating element constituted of a normally stationary polyphase coil, and means for conducting through free s ace through the rotary electric field there y produced the mixed substances whichare to be separated. l

4.. A separator comprislng a separatingv a normally stationelement constituted o ary polyphase coil, and means for conducting through the inclosure of such coil the mixed substances which are to be separated. l

In testimon whereof I aiiix my signature in presence o two witnesses. y

A GEORGE D. RGGERS. -Witnesses: c

l CHAS. F. RANDALL,

EDITH J. ANDERSON.' 

